Can I just say that many public sector workers like my DH for one have not had even an inflationary pay rise for 8 years? Our standard of living has probably halved in that time because most of our expenditure, like other people's, is in things that have risen exponentially.
DH is a scientist with 20+years and an international reputation. He has been offered jobs in the US earning 4x what he earns here. Even accounting for the extra healthcare and other costs of life in the US, we would still be markedly better off than here.
He has chosen to stay in his current because thanks to the extremely enlightened funding model that his place of work has evolved under, the science he is doing is cutting edge and their work is envied by all the US scientists he comes across. The current government have it in their sights however; if they get their wicked way, the place will be privatised, R&D which is its major strength will all but disappear (look at the forensic science service of which my sister was a casualty) and it will become third rate as all the scientists it currently employs move to better terms and conditions elsewhere in the world.
The thing about public service that many people don't understand, is that people who work for it really believe in it and are willing to sacrifice a little for what they perceive as the common good. I can understand that that would make people focused on their remuneration package uncomfortable.
And guess what, folks? Stop press! Public servants ALSO PAY TAXES. The private sector does not have a monopoly on contributing to the public purse (and I think that due to various available tax evasion models, the reverse may in fact prevail).
And we should all be so lucky to have such highly-qualified and dedicated people working on essentially not economically viable infrastructure that we all depend on. Unless we all want Tesco running the NHS and McD teaching our children, of course.